The purpose of Law Day is to call the citizenry's attention to the principles and practices of U.S. law and justice. Activities held by community groups and schools to celebrate Law Day include mock trials, debates, essay and poster contests, and films. This guide was developed to assist community groups or classes to participate in the observance…

Designed to assist the public in understanding the judicial system and judicial process in Alabama, this handbook (1) presents an overview of Alabama's courts and their jurisdictions, (2) identifies the officers of the courts and the contributions each makes to the judicial process, and (3) narrates in general terms the procedures most common to…

Because affirmative-action programs require governmental entities to act in a race-conscious and/or gender-conscious manner, public employers' affirmative-action programs may be challenged under both Title VII and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This document describes the standards of review by which…

A central issue in litigation arising from adverse employment decisions affecting school personnel is the adequacy of due process procedures. Due process is required only if a teacher is able to establish a protected property or liberty interest. The first section of this chapter accordingly discusses the circumstances under which due process is…

A carefully structured process for campus administrative decision making concerning hate speech is proposed and suggestions for implementation are offered. In addition, criteria for evaluating hate speech processes are outlined, and First Amendment principles circumscribing the institution's discretion to regulate hate speech are discussed.…

Four situations involving freedom of speech that could occur on college campuses are offered to help campus activities administrators consider in advance the implications of controversial events and possible techniques for managing them. The situations include a controversial pro-choice speaker, an X-rated movie, heckling in a public area, and…

Designed to extend Law Day's impact, this program gives lawyers, judges, and other community leaders the opportunity to teach important lessons about the United States Constitution and the federal government. It is intended to stimulate opportunities for students to reflect on the country's constitutional heritage and gain appreciation for the…

School security is a national concern. Throughout the country, youth crime and violence threaten to undermine the safety of American students' learning environment. This handbook is the product of a joint effort of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and DynCorp to help educators develop plans for reducing violence in…

This book accompanied by the Teacher's guide, focuses on policy issues being discussed and debated by U.S. policymakers. The book provides essays on current issues facing the nation and the world. Ten chapters highlight domestic policy issues and 10 chapters are about foreign policy issues. This book informs readers about important concerns of…

Advocating the complete separation of church and state, the author outlines the history of the present debate over the school-religion controversy. Includes a detailed discussion of interpretations of the First Amendment (especially the establishment clause) and Supreme Court decisions relating to the issue. (MD)

Issues that college administrators must address in forming policy about publications to be distributed on campus are considered, and the important parties and their interests are identified. Constitutional and practical problems created by restrictions on distribution are also examined. Finally, newspaper theft, a recently emerging campus problem,…

In "Mergens," the Supreme Court ruled that the Equal Access Act was constitutional and that students at a high school with a "limited open forum" could participate in a prayer club. Provides a chronology of First Amendment and Equal Access Act cases; advises school boards about policy issues; and lists the availability of a…

The plaintiff in Pico v. Island Trees, a 1982 landmark Supreme Court case that declared local public school boards cannot ban books merely because they dislike the ideas expressed in them, describes that censorship battle. The major components of the court decision are discussed, and strategies for combatting censorship in school libraries are…

School boards need to keep current on the status of graduation prayer. The "Weisman" decision said graduation prayers violated the First Amendment; the "Jones" decision would allow graduation ceremonies with student-led invocations and benedictions. Reviews these decisions to pinpoint the sources of confusion in subsequent…

The Williamsburg Charter is a celebration and reaffirmation of the religious liberty, or freedom of conscience, granted by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It was drafted and signed by more that 150 national leaders and presented to the nation on June 25, 1988, the 200th anniversary of Virginia's call for a bill of rights.…